Bus lanes in the city: Can "normal" cars also use them?

Some cities have dedicated bus lanes.

With a few exceptions, only buses are allowed to drive here.

If motorists use the special lane illegally, it can be expensive.

It's not just on the freeway that traffic jams happen from time to time – traffic jams are also frequent in dense city traffic.

To ensure that regular and school buses (be careful if you turn on the hazard warning lights) can still keep to their timetable to some extent, there are special bus lanes in some cities - in official German they are called "bus special lanes".

These are marked on the one hand by the traffic sign 245 (a white bus on a blue background) and on the other hand by corresponding markings on the road.

Now the question arises: Can other vehicles also use the lane?

And what are the general rules there?

Bus lanes in the city: Can "normal" cars also use them?

In principle, only public buses and appropriately marked school buses are allowed to drive in a bus lane.

However, there are exceptions: If a corresponding additional sign explicitly allows it, other vehicles may also use the special lane - these can be, for example, electric cars, taxis, coaches, ambulances or even bicycles, as can be seen in an appendix to the Road Traffic Ordinance (StVO).

For "normal" cars, on the other hand, the bus lane is taboo - unless use is limited specifically for buses.

This can also be possible with the appropriate traffic sign - the restriction then often applies to peak times on weekdays in the morning and in the late afternoon.

Outside the "bus times" the lane can then be used normally by other vehicles.

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If a driver illegally uses a bus lane, there is a risk of high fines (symbolic image).

© Ralph Peters/Imago

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Bus lanes in the city: if drivers ignore the regulations, it can be expensive

If a driver disregards the special regulations regarding a bus lane, it can get really expensive.

Driving illegally in the bus lane is still relatively cheap at 15 euros.

If you obstruct the regular service, 35 euros are already due.

Stopping and parking on the special lane then costs at least 55 euros.

If you obstruct traffic, it already costs 70 euros, if you endanger other road users, it is even 80 euros according to ADAC.

Traffic sign knowledge test: Would you have recognized all of them and what they mean?

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Particular caution should be exercised when turning, because traffic in the bus lane must always be allowed through - regardless of whether the bus is coming in the opposite direction or driving in the same direction.

If you endanger other road users, you risk a fine of 140 euros as well as a point in Flensburg and a month's driving ban.

If an accident actually occurs, the fine increases to 170 euros.

Rubric list image: © Ralph Peters/Imago